Planning a trip to the seaside? We’ve rounded up some great UK beaches with accessible features, such as beach wheelchairs and Changing Places toilets, so more people can enjoy a day by the sea.
Lots of beaches in the UK are easy to get to and wheelchair-friendly. With over 10,000 miles of coastline, there’s plenty to explore. We’ve picked out some great options for beach disability access across the UK, along with tips to help you plan your day by the sea.
Each of these beaches have been awarded a Blue Flag. This means they have excelled across the following four areas: environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management and safety and services.
Some of the most accessible beaches in the UK include:
Sandbanks beach, Dorset
Where better to have a sunny staycation than in Dorset, the UK’s (hopefully) scorching Jurassic Coast? Sandbanks Beach, in Poole, is one of only two beaches to have won the Blue Flag award every year since it started in 1987. There’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re heading out with family, friends or just looking for a peaceful spot to relax. The beach is flat and wide, and can be accessed by ramp, with good paths and accessible toilets close by. There are beach-friendly wheelchairs you can borrow, and the car park has spaces for Blue Badge holders. It’s a beach designed to welcome everyone. You’ll also find cafés nearby if you fancy a snack or drink, and lifeguards are on patrol during the summer, to help keep everyone safe in the water.
A little further along the south coast at Boscombe Beach, you’ll find the country’s first-ever purpose-built accessible beach huts. They’re designed to house four wheelchairs at once, which is great if you’re travelling with several people who use a wheelchair.
Sandbanks Beach © Getty Images / allou
West Runton Beach, Norfolk
Tucked between Cromer and Sheringham, West Runton Beach is a peaceful spot on the Norfolk coast that’s perfect if you’re looking for a more relaxed seaside visit.
At low tide, the beach reveals rock pools and stretches of sand that are great for gentle exploring. West Runton is easy to get to, with level access from the car park and a gentle slope down to the beach. There’s a small café and toilet facilities nearby, and the beach is known for being clean and calm, making it a great choice for families and anyone wanting a quiet day out.
West Runton Beach is best known for where a 600,000 year old skeleton of a steppe mammoth was found in 1990. Once you’ve soaked up some sun on the beach, you can learn more about the discovery at the nearby Cromer museum.
West Runton Beach © Getty Images / Charly King
Whitley Bay, Newcastle
Marvel at St Mary’s Lighthouse, with a backdrop of the North Sea from the characterful Whitley Bay.
You can hire a mobility device called a ‘Hippocampe’ (an all-terrain beach wheelchair) along with a variety of other mobility equipment from the charity Beach Access North East. And best of all, it’s free to borrow, you just need to give them a minimum of 24 hours notice.
There’s level access from several points, and the wide promenade is great for wheelchairs, scooters and buggies. You’ll also find accessible toilets, Blue Badge parking nearby and plenty of seating along the seafront.
Whitley Bay Beach © Getty Images / RawPhoto1
Balmedie Beach, Aberdeen
Scotland’s very own Balmedie Beach, in Aberdeen, is nestled by ancient sand dunes. It is known as one of the best beaches in the country. It’s close to Aberdeen train station, and offers the free, volunteer-run ‘Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs’ service. Be aware that the main hours for this are weekends between 12-3pm, so if you want to visit outside of these hours, make sure to contact them in advance to see if they can accommodate. In terms of other facilities, there is a Changing Places toilet, accessible with RADAR key, in the Country Park car park.
Balmedie Beach © Getty Images / Diana Rebenciuc
Caswell Bay, Swansea
Caswell Bay is a popular sandy beach on the Gower Peninsula, just outside Swansea. It’s known for its natural beauty and for how easy it is to enjoy.
There’s level access from the nearby car park, accessible toilets close to the beach, and beach-friendly wheelchairs available to hire for free from Surfability, an inclusive and fully adaptive surf school. Make sure to book in advance.
There is also a wide concrete path which runs along the back of the bay, making it simple to get close to the sea and enjoy the view.
And a special mention for Whitmore Bay. Made famous by the hit show Gavin and Stacey, the family-friendly beach on Barry Island is beautiful and fully accessible.
Caswell Bay © Getty Images / ianwool
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is home to many accessible beaches, thanks to the Mae Murray Foundation, a charity that makes beaches inclusive and offers a range of facilities for wheelchair users. Their beaches include wheelchair access, parking, and disabled toilets, as well as free beach equipment loan schemes, including floating chairs and all-terrain wheelchairs. Current ‘Inclusive Beaches’ with a Blue Flag include Benone, Cranfield and Portrush.
Portrush Beach © Getty Images / Ballygally View Images
How to be prepared for your beach day out
To help you prepare for visiting one of the UK’s best accessible beaches, we’ve also compiled some handy tips to make your day out as stress-free as possible:
- Parking. Before you set off, do some research into your chosen beach’s parking amenities. See if there’s parking nearby to limit your travel to the shore and if it’s accessible and safe for wheelchair users.
- Toilets. This is an essential thing to consider when choosing a seaside spot. Is there an accessible toilet, or Changing Places facilities nearby? Do you need a RADAR key, or are there staff on hand to help?
- Accommodation. If you’re going for a longer trip, it’s worth checking out accommodation first. Are the rooms, and the hotel itself, wheelchair-friendly? Are there lifts, an emergency cord in the bathrooms, and accessible washing facilities? Check out our article on how to book accessible accommodation for your summer stays.
- Sand wheelchairs. Pushing a wheelchair across the sand is extremely hard work, so sand wheelchairs (sand buggies for wheelchair users with bigger wheels) are here to help at many of the UK’s accessible beaches. Some can even get wet, too! It’s worth booking them in advance at peak season, though.
With a range of accessible beaches peppered across the length of the UK and Northern Ireland, there are plenty of great options for everyone. Enjoy your day by the sea!
Interested in joining the Scheme?
Exchange your qualifying mobility allowance for a brand-new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), scooter or powered wheelchair, so you can enjoy more freedom and independence.
As well as a great choice of vehicles, you’ll get an all-inclusive package. We’ll cover your insurance, servicing and breakdown.
Featured image credit: Getty Images / ian woolcock
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